Emil von Reznicek (May 4, 1860– August 2, 1945) was an Austrian composer of Czech ancestry.  He was born in Vienna, Austria and studied law and music simultaneously in Graz. He did not finish his law degree but continued to study music, his teacher being Wilhelm Mayer (also known as W. A. Rémy). Subsequently, he conducted at the theatre in Graz, in Berlin and a few other places. From 1886 to 1894 he was Kapellmeister of the 88th Infantry of Prague, and it was here that he saw his greatest triumph with the premiere of Donna Diana (December 16, 1894). In the spring of 1902, he settled in Berlin, touring to Russia and England from time to time. He was a personal friend of Richard Strauss.

When the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, Reznicek tried not to become involved to avoid putting into risk his daughter, Felicitas who was working for Britain’s MI-6.  He died on August 2, 1945, in Berlin, Germany.

Today, Reznicek is mainly remembered for the overture to his opera Donna Diana, composed in 1894. The overture is a popular stand-alone piece at symphonic concerts, and it served as the theme for the American radio (1947–1955) series Challenge of the Yukon, which later migrated to the TV series (1955–1958) Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. It was also used in the 1950s on the BBC’s Children’s Hour by Stephen King-Hall for his talks on current affairs.  Reznicek’s other works include orchestral works (five symphonies, suites, serenades, overtures), a violin concerto (1922), operas, four string quartets, and chamber music.

This week we have John Golland’s arrangement of Emil von Reznicek overture Donna Diana, a piece that is rarely played on brass band concerts these days.